1997 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

I RECENTLY BECAME AWARE OF YOUR SERVICES SO THAT IS WHY THIS IS WRITTEN WAY AFTER THE FACT. MAY PROBLEM IS THAT I OWN A 97 DODGE CARAVAN, AT THE TIME IT HAD APPOX. 80,000 MILES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL THAT HOLDS THE STRAT ROTTED TO THE POINT THAT THE STRAT WAS COMING THROUGH. I CALLED DODGE AND THEY SAID THAT PART OF THE BODY WASN'T WARRANTED AGAINST RUST THROUGH. I THOUGHT IT WAS ODD THAT THE DOORS AND HOOD WAS BUT NOT THE UNDER PART. I HAD THE REPAIRS DONE FOR $900 AND NOW THE DRIVER SIDE IS ABOUT TO DO THE SAME. WHAT IS IRONIC IS THAT THE BODY IE DOORS AND QUARTER PANELS ARE FINE. IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR PART OF THE CAR AND IF SO DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *CB

THE FIRST TIME MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WAS WHEN IT HAD 29000 MILES ON IT ON OCTOBER 1999.OAKLAND DODGE REPLACED THE TORQ CONFERTER AND OVERHAUL THE TRANSMISSION AT THEIR COST. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN AFTER A LITTLE OVER 36000 MILES LATER AND NOW THEY BLAMED IT ON A BROKEN TORQ CONVERTER AND PUT IN A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION AT MY COST. ALSO THIS VEHICLE HAD 3 SERPENTINE BELTS REPLACED IN ONE YEAR BECAUSE OF SHREDDING. IT IS AMAZING TO ME HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THAT THERE ISN'T A RECALL ON THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. I WILL NEVER BUY A DODGE CARAVAN AGAIN.

I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SAME MODEL VEHILE AND THEY HAD THE SAME COMPLAINTS .I THINK THE MAKER OF THIS VEHICLE SHOULD DO A RECALL AND PRORATE A DOLLAR SCALE ON THESE MINI VANS. FOR I TRUST THE VECHICLES THAT FOLLWED HAVE TO BE MORE RELIABLE. THIS VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITH ME DRIVING AND IS CURRENTLY PARKED IN MY FRONT YARD UNDRIVIBLE

AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED AND REMAINED ON THE DASHBOARD UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GARAGE, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING GEARS. DEALER'S MECHANIC RECOMMENDS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. *AK

THE STRUT THAT HELD THE REAR HATCH SNAPPED. THE HATCH CRASHED DOWN, AND NEARLY DECAPITATED A SMALL CHILD. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE TURNPIKE VEHICLE'S TIRE BLEW OUT.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOWOUT. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SIDE SWIPED THE GUARDRAIL. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM

THERE WAS A GAS SMELL INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VAN UPON STARTING THE VAN OR WHEN THE HEAT WAS ON. THERE WAS A RECALL (00V268000) ISSUED FOR THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, BUT THE VIN NUMBER WAS OUTSIDE THE REMEDY SCOPE. *NLM *MR

I CONSIDER OURSELVES FORTUNATE AFTER SCOURING THRU THE NUMEROUS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ON THE 1997 DODGE CARAVAN. WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED IN 1999 WITH 23,000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS MAINLY USED TO TRANSPORT MYSELF AND OUR THREE CHILDREN ALL UNDER THE AGE OF 6 AT THE TIME, BUT NOW MY HUSBAND DRIVES IT BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. WE TO HAVE HAD THE INTERMITENT GHOST WIPERS EVER SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICHLE AND WERE CONSTANTLY TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG OR COULD BE FOUND TO BE WRONG. WE HAVE WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS REPLACED THE DRIVE BELT, THE WATER PUMP, & TIMING BELT DUE TO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION AT 123,000 MILES JUST WENT OUT ON MY HUSBAND WHILE HE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WE ARE TOLD THAT IT WILL COST $1,500 TO FIX. WE HAVE CHOSEN TO GET IT FIXED, BUT AT THE TIME OF THAT DECISION DID NOT REALIZE THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CHRYSLER TRANSMISSIONS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE VAN LEFT MY HUSBAND STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WILL IT TAKE SOMEONE GETTING KILLED BEFORE CHRYSLER IS HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE DEFECTS? I DO NOT LIKE THE FACT THAT MY HUSBAND WILL BE DRIVING THIS VEHICHLE AGAIN, ONCE THE TRAMISSION IS REPAIRED. AS I STATED ABOVE I CONSIDER OURSELVES ONE OF THE FORTUNATE ONES TO NOT HAVE EXPERIENCED SO MANY PROBLEMS AS OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD WITH THEIR VEHICHLES, BUT WHEN WILL THE TIME COME TO HOLD CHRYSLER RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR SHODY WORKMANSHIP? I CAN HONESTLY SAY THIS IS THE FIRST AND WILL BE THE LAST CHRYSLER CAR I EVER OWN. MY OTHER CAR IS A FORD F-150, WHICH I AM VERY PROUD TO DRIVE! *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE ENGINE WAS CLUNKY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *JB